Shannon & Dean Hale – Rapunzel’s Revenge
135. Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale, illustrated by Nathan Hale (2008)
Length: 144 pages
Genre: Graphic Novel, Young Adult, Fantasy, Western
Started/Finished: 02 December 2012
Where did it come from? The library.
Why do I have it? I recognized Hale’s name, and needed some light graphic novels.
Who needs a lasso
when you’ve got an enormous
braid of bright red hair?
Summary: Rapunzel’s mother, the feared Mother Gothel, controls powerful growth magic, but has turned the countryside surrounding their fortress into a barren waste of mines and ramshackle towns. When Rapunzel angers Mother Gothel, she’s imprisoned in a giant tree, and left there to grow up. When she finally escapes the tree (with no help from any handsome princes, but with some fine lassoing skills and a magical braid of hair), she falls in with a young troublemaker named Jack and his pet goose. They plan to travel back to Mother Gothel’s land, and save Rapunzel’s real mother from the mine camps, but there are plenty of adventures waiting along the way.
Review: We all know I love fairy tales of all flavors, and while I wouldn’t classify myself as a fan of Westerns per se, I definitely do enjoy the occasional story with a Western-like feeling to it. I’m also partial to stories where the princess rescues herself, and books with a good sense of humor. On all of those counts, Rapunzel’s Revenge was a lot of fun to read. It’s not a fairy tale that I’ve seen retold all that often, and it fits into a Old West setting surprisingly well. It’s fast paced, with plenty of action (despite a somewhat slow beginning), and a strong female lead. It had some sweet moments and some funny ones, and although I usually like my humor a little snarkier, I can see how the milder, sillier laughs were aiming at the younger set. The artwork matched the tone of the book well, colorful and active. Ultimately, while I don’t think this book is going to leave a lasting impression on me, it was definitely a fun and lighthearted way to spend an hour or so. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Fairy-tale fans of all ages should find something to enjoy here.
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First Line: Once upon a time, there was a beautiful little girl.
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I thought this was a lot of fun and look forward to more adventures!
Kailana – Are they writing another one?
Hair as a lasso…oh, that’s a must-read!
Cheryl – And lasso *and* a whip (a la Indiana Jones)!
I thought both the books I read in this series were a lot of fun. :)
Darren – I guess I didn’t realize the sequel was out already! I’ll have to see if my library has it.